15 Jun 2005

New autonomous Bougainville government faced with funding woes

4:04 pm on 15 June 2005

The President of the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, Joseph Kabui, says the biggest concern facing the new autonomous government is where it will get the money to pay for its programmes.

The newly elected assembly is being sworn near Buka today.

Some finance will come from the national government as per the peace agreement, and Mr Kabui says the province also has the right written into its constitution to be able to approach foreign donors.

He says the presence of much of the diplomatic corps at the inauguration gives an opportunity to gauge interest.

"Certainly there will be some willingness to help out, to help the autonomous government to move on, particularly in helping to finance the various infrastructural activities on the ground in Bougainville."